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"... The gift that God has given us to
be creative... flavors the whole creative process..."
Defining Dan Dobek's music is a little like trying to
explain electricity. "Well, it's the invisible force, it seems to come
from some mysterious place and it sort of energizes everything, and it's
very powerful, one might say of both, and be right." But beneath the
awkward search for words that work is a deeper force, the source of
inspiration for Dan's profound talents as a composer and performer of
dazzlingly beautiful instrumental music.
"The spirit in my music comes from this inspiration - the word
inspiration, means in spirit," Dan explains. "The feeling of inspiration
that comes from my walk with the Lord is what drives my expression."
Dan is an artist who is a Christian. The music he creates conveys that
sense of spiritual commitment and dedication - perhaps more remarkable
since most of his work is instrumental. It might be called Christian
Jazz, and even people with no religious frame of reference have been
able to recognize that this is music with a most unusual and powerful
energy.
"An artist writes from experience, Dan says. "It comes from my joy, my
struggles, even from dark places where faith is challenged, but always
from where the hope is.
"As an instrumentalist, it's challenging to communicate this; yet I feel
that people do feel that creative energy. A lot of artists claim to be
tapped into creative energy. If you really understand the Scriptures and
the gift that God has given us to be creative, it flavors the whole
creative process, because you know you,re co-creating with the creator
of all the universe.
Dan's career began at a very early age. By 10, he took top honors in a
national contest for performance on the piano accordion, As he matured,
he moved to other instruments, first to piano and then to jazz organ.
After a brief stint at Berklee School of Music, Dan decided to
investigate the piano thoroughly, searching for the broadest range of
its possibilities. In 1990, with the release of his acclaimed CD Jazz
For My Father, things began to gel. "That's when I realized that I was a
writer, he recalls. "I started to view myself as a composer and not just
a player. I feel that inspiration from something in my spiritual life
and put that feeling to music.
Now, four recordings later and with another about to be released, Dan
Dobeck is sharing the love of God with his listeners. "That's the heart
motivation and the musical motivation of my writing, he says. And it's
that heart and music that reaches beyond perspectives, beyond
personality, beyond time, to touch us all.
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Dan acknowledges that some people
feel uncomfortable with the religious titles he gives to his
compositions, but Dan says they reflect his own journey into a
spiritual awakening.
"[Local concert producer] Butch Conn calls it gospel be-bop", he
said, "but I'm not trying to be dogmatic about my beliefs. People
can enjoy the music in its own right. If they feel the energy and
joy and want to talk about it, that's OK too."
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Still Standing
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Still Standing (Prelude) 
Free People (Are You Free?)
Eddie Did You Reach Out?
Aaron's Song
To purchase this CD visit
here!
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Iron Sharpens Iron
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Bay Back Blues
Blues For Dad
To purchase this CD visit
here!
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For more CD's/ info about Dan Dobek visit:
www.dandobek.com
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